CAF awards 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee has overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco. The decision, issued two months after the match held in Rabat on January 18, follows an incident where Senegal players left the pitch in protest against a VAR-awarded penalty. CAF cited articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, which penalize teams for refusing to continue play. Senegal's federation disputes this ruling, labeling it unjustified and announcing an immediate appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Senegalese players have publicly mocked the decision on social media, maintaining they are the legitimate winners. Some reports suggest that the Senegalese football association is considering withdrawing from future tournaments if the CAS ruling is unfavorable. The controversy has sparked widespread debate across the continent regarding the transparency and institutional consistency of African football governance.